Sweeping compound and process of making same.



JAMES P. PORTEUS, OF KIRKWOOD, MISSOURI.

No Drawing.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AMES 1?. PoRTnUs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Kirkwood, St. Louis county, Missouri, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Sweeping Compounds and Processesof Making Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to sweeping compounds, namely, compositions ofmatter that are used for laying, collecting or absorbing dust and thedisease germs or microbes therein.

One object of my invention is to provide a sweeping compound that isalso an inodorous and safe, disinfecting and deodorizing compound.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sweeping compound thatwill not stain the surface or materials on which it is used andwhichwill not form into lumps while it is being used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a moist and viscid sweepingcompound that does not depend for its moisture upon the presence orincorporation of hygroscopic salts. And still another object of myinvention is to provide a process for producing the sweeping compoundabove described.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafterpointed out.

Briefly described, my improved sweeping compound consists of a moistmacerated, shredded, or finely comminuted absorbing substance, such, forexample, as sawdust, having a viscid or sticky substance mixedtherewith. The absorbing substance has a sufficiently viscid or stickysurface to hold the particles of dust or germs with which. it may comein contact duringthe operation of sweeping, but it is not viscid enoughto cause the compound to stain the surface or fabric on which it isused, or form into lumps or adhere to said surface or fabric.

The compound also comprises deodorizing and disinfecting chemicals sothat it forms a very efficient dust-absorbing and disinfectingcomposition of matter that is free from oil.

To produce the compound above referred to I first moisten a quantity ofsawdust with water to which has been added an aqueous solution offerrous sulfate that con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 1, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1914].

Serial No. 435,853.

tains about two per cent. of ferrous sulfate, the sawdust forming abouta third of the completed mixture. Preferably, I use about one quart ofwater and one quart of solution to 25 lbs. of sawdust, the sawdust andmoistening substance being mixed together in any suitable form of mixingapparatus until the aqueous solution is thoroughly incorporated with theparticles of sawdust. The action of the ferrous sulfate on the tannin inthe particles of sawdust produces a peculiar greenish color due to thedevelopment of tannate of iron, the intensityof the color depending uponthe percentage of the tannin in the sawdust.

The length of time that the sawdust and solution are agitated in themixing apparatu's depends upon the general conditions under, which theprocess is carried out and the nature of the materials used but this canbe conveniently determined by inspecting the mixture from time to time.The main object of mixing the aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate withthe sawdust is to in corporate therewith a deodorizing substance andalso color the sawdust, but it is not necessary to agitate the massuntil a certain color is obtained for sawdust formed from certain kindsof woods will be acted upon more quickly than others due to the factthat they have a higher percentage of tannin. The mass is agitated untilthe so1ution is thoroughly absorbed by the sawdust and if the desiredcolor has not been obtained by the time the solution and sawdust havebeen thoroughly mixed together it will eventually be obtained by thechemical action of the ferrous sulface on the tannin in the sawdust.

The next step in the process is to introduce a disinfectant, saiddisinfectant preferably being added to the mixture after the sulfate hasbeen thoroughly mixed with the sawdust. Various disinfectants can beused and I do not wish it to be understood that my improved sweepingcompound is limited to any particular disinfectant. \Vhen the co1npoundis to be used for household or general purposes an aqueous solution ofchlorid of aluminum can be mixed with the sawdust and ferrous sulfateand when the compound is to be used in sanatoriums, hospitals, publichalls and vehicles a stronger disinfectant can be used.

While I prefer to use a disinfectant in an aqueous solution, it will, ofcourse, be obvious that a dry disinfectant can be used without departingfrom the spirit of my invention.

As previously stated, my improved compound contains a viscid non-oilysubstance. Various substances having these characteristics can be used,such, for example, as glycerin, glucose, molasses, corn, cane or woodsyrup, silicate of sodium, or in fact, any substance of a viscidnon-oily nature, the substance that is used being preferably introducedinto the mass of sawdust and chemicals in an aqueous solution. IVhile Iprefer to use a substance that is viscid in its natural condition, itwill, of course, be obvious that I could use a substance that is dry inits natural condition and which becomes viscid when it comes in contactwith a moist or wet substance. Dextrin, for example, which in itsnatural condition is a dry powder, could be used for this purpose forwhen it comes in contact with the damp sawdust it will become viscid.

If the compound is to be used principally for households or for generalpurposes I prefer to use about 4: lbs. of glucose to 25 lbs. of sawdust.This glucose is preferably mixed with the sawdust and chemicalspreviously referred to in the mixing apparatus and when the particles ofthe mass are thoroughly coated with the glucose and the mass is mixedsufficiently to be free from lumps and in a loose damp state I add asubstance which imparts weight to the mixture so that it will be moreeffective in cutting accui'nulated dust and also enable the mixture torestore colors to carpets, rugs and other textiles. I prefer to useloose chlorid of sodium for this purpose and mix it in about thefollowing proportions; namely, 25 lbs. of sawdust to 25 lbs. of chloridof sodium. If desired, an abrading substance, such, for example, assilica, clean sand or any other suitable abrasive material can be addedto the mixture if the compound is intended to be used on rough surfacessuch as wooden fioors, in public halls, vehicles, etc., where largequantities of dust and dirt accumulate.

The composition of matter above described forms a very efiicientsweeping compound for laying and absorbing dust and all flying particlesraised in the process of sw eping and also forms a safe, deodorizingdisinfectant which is free from oil or oily substances so that it willnot damage or stain the surfaces upon which it is used. Furthermore,said sweeping compound is moist and viscid and does not depend for itsmoisture upon the presence or incorporation of hygroscopic salts. Itquickly collects particles of dust as well as all the disease germs,microbes or bacteria associated therewith from the surface on which itis used and disinfects and deodorizes said surface without any liabilityof staining or injuring the surface.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The process of producing a sweeping compound, which consists inmixing sawdust with an aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate, andthereafter mixing therewith a viscid or sticky non-oily substance, torender the sawdust sticky; substantially as described.

2. The process of producing a sweeping compound, which consists inmixing an absorbing substance with an aqueous solution of ferroussulfate, and thereafter mixing with said mass glucose and an aqueoussolution of chlorid of aluminum; substantially as described.

3. A sweeping compound comprising a mass of absorbent granular materialmixed with an aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate and the particles ofwhich mass are coated with glucose.

4. A sweeping compound comprising a mass of absorbent granular materialmixed with an aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate, a disinfectant andthe particles of which mass are coated with glucose.

The process of producing a sweeping compound, which consists in mixing amass of absorbent granular material with an aqueous solution of ferroussulfate, then combining with said mass a disinfectant, and then mixingwith said mass a viscid non-oily substance in sufiicient quantity tocoat the particles of the entire mass.

6. The process of producing a sweeping compound, which consists inmixing an absorbent granular material with an aqueous solution offerrous sulfate, then mixing a disinfectant with said mass, then coatingthe particles of said mass with a viscid nonoily substance. and thenmixing with said mass a quantity of heavy granular material.

7. The herein-described sweeping compound, comprising sawdust moistenedwith an aqueous solution of ferrous sulfate. the particles of whichsawdust are coated with a viscid non-oily substance, and the entire massbeing mixed with a heavy granular material.

8. A sweeping compound, comprising a mass of sawdust treated with anaqueous solution of ferrous sulfate and with a liquid disinfectant, andthe particles of which sawdust are coated with a viscid non-oily substance.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this 26th day of May 1908.

JAMES P. PORTEUS. Witnesses M. E. HOLDEN, H. CHAPMAN.

